Volcanic islands

. Lava erupting from the volcanic island Surtsey on 19 August 1966, almost three years after it rose out of the sea near the coast of Iceland. The volcanic island of Jolnir is in the background. It disappeared back into the sea about one month after this picture was taken, but Surtsey is still visited for research purposes today. All of these volcanic islands, including Iceland, mark points where a mid-ocean ridge has risen out of the ocean. (Courtesy of Hjalmar R. Bardarson, Reykjavik, from his book Ice and Fire.)